Raza’s 97 puts Zim on top

Colombo, July 16 

Sikandar Raza hit a gritty 97 not out to help Zimbabwe recover from a top-order collapse and stretch their second innings lead over Sri Lanka to 262 in the one-off Test at R Premadasa Stadium.

The visitors were 252/6 at stumps on Day Three, with Raza and Malcolm Waller (57) putting on an unbeaten 107-run stand for the seventh-wicket. Raza lifted Zimbabwe from a precarious 23/4, followed by 59/5, after Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Rangana Herath rattled the visitors’ batting with four early wickets. 

Herath, who got three wickets before the lunch break, bowled Sean Williams for 22 in the second session as Zimbabwe teetered dangerously close to losing their 10-run advantage. 

Brief Scores: Zimbabwe: 356 and 252/6 (Raza 97*, Waller 57*; Herath 4/85); Sri Lanka: 346 (Tharanga 71, Chandimal 55, Gunaratne 45; Cremer 5/125). — AFP